The "public" nature of blogs

One of the conversations we'll start next week and continue throughout the semester will be to discuss blogs as a genre. Who is the audience for our blog? What are the implications of the public nature of blogs? How will this shape what we write, how we write, etc.? Which conversations "belong" in these spaces? Which conversations might not? (And why are these difficult questions to pose in a learning environment?)

Along these lines, remember that the blogs we are creating could theoretically be accessed by anyone so I suggest that you do not include any personal information on your blog that you don't want "out there". (For example, when I post my electronic resume on my professional web page, I don't include my phone number or address or personal photos, etc.) If anyone would like to publish their blog with their first name, but not their last, I'm fine with that as well.

Community Event: Jane Addams Book Awards Celebration

One of the ways we'll use this blog is to share information on community events related to literature. If you attend an event, write about it on your blog and tell us about it in class!

On Thursday, September 6th there will be a "Jane Addams Children's Book Awards Celebration" at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. Since the award is given for books that "engagingly and effectively invite children to think about peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and all races", this event would be a great opportunity to start thinking about the role of awards in the world of children's literature.

For more information on the event, including links to information on the Jane Addams Award, check out the description on the Everybody Reads website.

Preparing for Session 2

Hello Everyone!

Here are some guidelines for preparing for next session. If you have any questions, post them as a comment and I'll respond publicly so that others can benefit as well!

Introduction to issues of diversity:

• Bishop (1997): What is multicultural literature? Why use it? What issues might one consider as one reads this type of literature?
• Yenika-Agbaw (1997) What is the relationship between reader-text-context? What does it mean to read critically?
  

Poetry:

• The Tatum (2000) article will help you think about your own "social identities" and help us think about how they might impact how we read and understand the world. This article might inspire your poetry!
• If you go to the "Lessons" tab on our angel site you'll see that I've posted the poems we read in class and have added a drop box to submit the poems.
• Please submit your poems by 6pm the night before class!
  

Blogging:

• The Suen (2006) article provides an introduction to blogging and its place in the world of children's literature. Check out some of the children's literature blogs that she mentions!
• If you want more general information on blogs, you might also check out the wikipedia entry on blogging.
• For those who feel ready, follow the directions on the last page of the syllabus to set up your blogs and do an initial post! Remember to email me your address!
  
• Next session we'll spend some time sharing what we find!
  

Wow! This is a lot to do, but I think that it will set us up for a good semester! (And, if it makes people feel better, this isn't a typical week's assignment!

Valerie

Welcome!

Welcome to TE 448: Issues in Diversity in Children's and Adolescent Literature! We'll use this blog, along with the individual blogs you will create, as a form of communication and archive of our work.